I am still slightly sleep deprived from a week at youth camp. I love the opportunities to build relationships that youth camp offers, even at the cost of my sleep. This week during camp I found myself watching the events going on around me and being so thankful. Thankful for the time to be with the students, to participate in what God did in the lives of many and to serve with some amazing leaders from all over SE Alaska. I figured out that this year was my 9th youth camp I've attended, and my 6th youth camp I've done with Pastor Matt and Jenifer. 2 of those were in Texas and the other 4 have been in Alaska..
Remember how I said I'm overly nostalgic? I also remember things, usually that no one else does, like specific dates. Well all day yesterday I thought of what happened 7 years ago on that date...7 years ago on June 7, 2006 was when Pastor Matt and Jen informed us that they would soon be transitioning out of their position as youth pastors at our church there in TX. That day was terrible. It was painful. And I honestly thought that that was the end of a lot of things, I assumed the season of serving under my pastors was over and I was unsure of how a lot of things would play out. A few weeks after that date I attended youth camp without the Geralds, but God told me that my season of serving under them was not over.
Seven years to the day after that difficult day and I was on a ferry on my way back from camp, still having the privilege of serving my pastors and friends. Watching them this week at camp serving as camp directors and seeing them connect and invest into the lives of leaders and students made me stop and it reminded me of how thankful I am for their authority and for that relationship in my life.
" Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." Hebrews 13:7
" Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you." Hebrews 13:17
I read these scriptures today and I'm grateful they are leaders who speak truth, model it through their own service, who keep watch over me and so many people, who continually invest their own resources, who can speak freely in my life and do all of it in love. They are leaders who have the kind of faith verse 7 talks about, faith I can imitate. I'm grateful for their humble obedience to follow God in everything and that I still get to partner with and serve under them.
